Joel Hofer in net for the St. Louis Blues…his first game playing against the Rangers. Zack Bolduc will return to the lineup on the third line, centered by Oskar Sundqvist. Radek Faksa will be reunited with Alexey Toropchenko and Nathan Walker on the fourth line…the WTF line.
Jordan Kyrou and Jake Neighbours will swap spots on the top two lines. Igor Shesterkin is between the pipes for the Rangers. Who have lost their last two games.
Play hard & fast…SHOOT…THE…PUCK!
Blues shorthanded 2:30 into the first period. Hofer makes two BIG saves…a kick save and a glove save…good kill by the Blues. Back on the penalty kill at 6:18 for the Blues…and only one shot by the Rangers…2 for 2 on the kill.
With 11:13 left, a weak shot from the blueline meanders through and it deflects off a Ranger skate and trickles between Hofer’s legs…one to zip Rangers. Rangers are 10-0 when scoring first. Jordan Kyrou creates space for himself and gets open in the slot and with a great feed from Brayden Schenn coming from behind the net, Kyrou immediately one times it five-hole to tie the game at one with just under eight minutes left in Period 1.
Blues get their turn on the powerplay with 5:54 left in the period. Good pressure with three shots but no blood…score remains 1 to 1. Period 1 ends tied with the Blues leading in shots 15 to 14. Also, zero…yes zero defensive zone turnovers for the Blues…impressive!
Continue SHOOTING…THE…PUCK!
The Blues are 4-4-0 when tied after one period. Terrific pressure and tempo by the Blues in the first four minutes of the period and the Blues are rewarded as Zack Bolduc gets a rebound and puts it over the sprawled out Shesterkin for his first goal of the year. Dylan Holloway and Radek Faksa get the well-earned assists.
The Rangers come back swarming in the Blues end and Hofer loses his stick and a quick pass to a wide-open side of the net, and we are tied at two with 13 minutes left. Rangers go back to the power play as Bolduc takes his second penalty of the game. Blues defend well with no shots against and shortly later the Blues go on the power play. No score for either side on the PP.
The Rangers put some intense pressure on the Blues in the last two minutes, but the Blues bend but do not break. A bit of rough stuff at the end of the period including the goalies taking a swipe at each other…love it! Tied 2 -2 at the end of two. Need another strong 20 minutes. Blues continue with the shot on goal advantage 30 to 22!!
Repeating…Continue SHOOTING THE PUCK!!
Blue-collar effort so far. Four on four hockey to start the third period…lots of open ice…Schenn gets a breakout pass from Scott Perunovich and Schenn skates in alone and fires the puck low stick side for the 3 to 2 lead…1:10 into the period. The Captain's fourth on the season.
At 16:16 the Blues to the power play after a cheap shot from Matt Rempe of the Rangers on Jake Neighbours. Four shots on the power play with continued pressure but no goals. 0 for 3 on the PP with 10 shots.
Tenacious forechecking with Colton Parakyo down low and then moving to the point takes a shot that deflects to Bolduc…his second of the game and season…he fires it past Shesterkin for a 4 to 2 lead at 8:52. Holloway gets the second assist. Bolduc…two penalties and two goals…on six shots! Now on the hat trick watch. Blues hit the 40 shots mark with 6:48 left…first time since the second game of the season.
5 MINUTES!!
Empty net for the Rangers with just over three minutes left. Pavel Buchnevich…the former third-round draft choice of the Rangers…gets the empty net goal with 2:45 left…his sixth of the season the assist to Oskar Sundqvist and Ryan Suter. 5 to 2 Blues...and that's the way it ends for the W!
Notes: Hofer best start in recent memory stopping 27 of 29 shots…Season high 43 shots for the Blues…71 shot attempts…Previous eight power plays had a total of nine shots on goal...Can you feel the winds of change?